A total of 151 players were selected by the eight franchises.

The Player Draft of the inaugural edition of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) was held at Crowne Plaza Hotel on Saturday. Team India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was bought by the Dindigul franchise, while Dinesh Karthik went to Thoothukudi and Murali Vijay to Coimbatore.

The draft ceremony, which was conducted by former India leg-spinner L Sivaramakrishnan, saw the eight franchises pick a total of 151 players. Every franchise, except the Coimbatore one owned by Lyca Productions, selected 19 players. Coimbatore have 18 in the bag.

Each franchise was required to select two players each from the districts as well as the Under-19 category. Washington Sundar was the first Under-19 player to be picked. He went to the Thoothukudi franchise.

The TNPL has requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to allow outstation players to take part in the league. TNPL Chairman PS Raman informed that he was hopeful of a favourable outcome. “I have spoken to Mr. Ajay Shirke, the Honorary Secretary of the BCCI. If the BCCI allows outstation players, then the teams will get to pick two more players,” he said.

This will, of course, increase the squad strength to 21. Several outstation players are employed in Tamil Nadu and have been playing in tournaments conducted by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association for several years. “There are 25 such players. They will be allowed back into the Player Draft if the BCCI gives its nod of approval,” Mr. Raman added.

The tournament will be from August 27th-September 18th. The winners will take home Rs 1 crore while the runners-up will receive 60 lakh. The third and fourth placed teams will receive 40 lakh each. The total prize money on offer is Rs 3.40 crore.